Tag Archives: HomeGrown Mics

Dessa “Darling”, award-winning vocalist and part of Minnesota’s powerhouse hip-hop collective, Doomtree, was nice enough to take some time after her set at East Carson street’s Smiling Moose to talk to our very own Joshua “Zeus” Thomas on a cold September night in Pittsburgh. Dessa and her live four-piece band (comprised of Sean McPherson on upright bass, vocalist Aby Wolf, drummer Joey Van Phillips, and guitarist Dustin Kiel) have been touring in support of her new album, Parts Of Speech, which is available now.

Dessa: I think we’ve had a really good run with the small club scene. Its always good to work with people that feel trustworthy.

Zeus: How long have you guys been touring together as a band, and what are the differences between touring with them, and touring with Doomtree?

Dessa: I think we’ve been playing together for about three years. I would say that playing with these guys and playing with Doomtree each has their benefits. I think with Doomtree, it ends up being more of a “hockey match”. Like you’re getting checked, you know? Kind of coming off the walls all the time. It’s a very athletic show. But with these guys, I think what I like most is that they’re all such stellar fucking musicians, and we can really respond to a room. (Working with tracks) you don’t have quite as much control over tempo and volume, but you can really play off the crowd with a band.

Zeus: Your ability to take a room, like you said, from a fast tempo or a rap track then bring it down to a ballad and keeping everyone in tune with it is amazing.

Dessa: Thanks!

Zeus: What differences were there in writing this CD, (Parts of Speech) and the last two? There’s definitely a different type of atmosphere.

Dessa: I imagine writing every CD will feel as different as living that year of your life. You know what I mean? You have great years, you have bullshit years, you have formative years. My first full length CD, A Badly Broken Code, I was really going through the ringer. And then for this record, I think it’s the first time where I was able to step back from the subject matter and look at it in a more multi-dimensional view. Like, “Ok, so what you fell down? You got hurt? Well, how might that story play out if you weren’t the protagonist? How would this look to a bystander? How would this look to the other party?”

Zeus: So, being more objective?

Dessa: A little bit. Or even at least more empathetic. Toward the world and my life. What if I were a boy? What if I were older? What if I were younger. How might it feel to be a character to me?

It’s worth noting that this show and interview was only ONE NIGHT after Dessa’s tour van was broken into and robbed for roughly $30,000 of musical equipment and personal items in Buffalo, New York. ( I witnessed Dessa using a fan’s inhaler in mid-set, because her’s was among the stolen items.) The group made the bold decision to continue touring in spite of the setback and their fans raised $26,000 in donations by the next morning. In a time where most musicians motivation is questionable, it’s obvious that these guys love what they do.

As Chox-Mak and DJ YRS Jerzy continue their reign with dropping singles every week this month alot of people are starting to get familiar with them. They have so many projects in the works and they are always professional when it comes down to presenting themselves. Their latest track “Feel Our Pain” is a real life track that has a great meaning behind it. It takes you on a journey searching for real hip hop and it is safe to say that “Feel Our Pain” is a single that can help bring back real rap. They both feel that there are too many “Trap Rappers” in the game and not enough lyricists. Feel Our pain is definitely a track with substance that the people will relate to and want to hear alot more of. This track was produced by DR.G out of Manchester, United Kingdom.

Jus Daze aka The Bowlegged Bandit has been seen everywhere from television on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to multiple battling platforms, such Anthony Anderson’s Mixtape Comedy Show, Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, King of the Dot, GrindTimeNow, EOW, & more. He’s also been spotted & featured all over the internet on well-respected sites as well.

The thing that makes Jus Daze different is the fact that he’s a handicapped rapper who is extremely bowlegged and “jumped” into Battle Rap with a noticeably big disadvantage and managed to make a name off it, winning not based off gimmick, but off of legit rhyme and reason.

“I’ve used my medium that I have to create a sort of positive message, even speaking at schools on career days and rally’s to tell people that nothing is impossible. Once being a 500 lb guy who walked with two crutches, to now this muscular “wrecking-ball” if you will, people on their own volition have hit me up numerous times, which kind of made the incentive for making this album called Walk Twice As Hard,” says Daze.

Seasoned bowlegged battle-rap champ, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon guest-star, Anthony Anderson’s Mixtape Comedy Show winner, Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival performer, world-recognized freestyle champion, and inspiration to many worldwide, decided to share his journey in weight-loss, physical disability, personal strife, and music career on November 12th by dropping the auto-biographical album entitled “Walk Twice As Hard”.
“Walk Twice As Hard” is a look at the life of bowlegged rapper Jus Daze, who overcame a dramatic transformation, once weighing 500 pounds and needing the assistance of canes to help him walk, to becoming more than just a man who can stand on his own two feet, but a gifted MC who truly “stands out” from the rest!

The album appeals to all “walks” of life, so to speak and has already touched the heart of many looking forward to the project, as well as those who have just found out about it!

The album guest features former WWE Intercontinental Champion MVP on the track “I Made It”. The album also features RnB singers Devo D & Lenore. Walk Twice As Hard includes production from all over the world including France, Canada, Sweden, the United States, & many more! Some contributing producers are B.illing, Subpdp, Stradivarius, Mighty Fuzz Young, Richie Beretta, Juice Beats, Larry Legend, Clipsmoke & more.
WALK TWICE AS HARD YouTube Singles (previously released earlier this year)
Superman’s Dead via YouTube: http://youtu.be/boc4fWLciwY

Chox-Mak and DJ YRS Jerzy have been heating up the internet this winter with all the projects they have been dropping from songs, videos etc. This time they are back again with a track called “Tetris” which was a video game from a couple of decades ago. Now with PS4’s and Xbox One’s out people seem to have forgotten about games that were in arcades years ago. Chox-Mak and DJ YRS Jerzy bring the “Tetris” feeling back alive this time through music. This track has a video game type of feel to it with some of the instruments that are in the beat. It is just an up beat track that people can have fun with and enjoy. The production of this track was brought by Young Arcader.

DJ YRS Jerzy and Chox-Mak are a duo currently taking the internet by storm with their impeccable work ethic and their consistency of dropping projects. These two seem to have come out of no where but it is not like that at all. They have been working the media and getting them selves heard and the most impressive part is that they do everything by them selves. They are already getting features on some of the top hip hop websites and their names just keep getting bigger and bigger as the days go by. Alot of people in the industry have their eyes on these two it is almost hard to see when they aren’t dropping projects because they are just so consistent.

It is reported that they have a couple of label executives who are scouting them right now but they don’t seem to let that get to their heads. DJ YRS Jerzy handles the business side of things and Chox-Mak is the recording artist. The crazy thing about all of this is that they started working together in early 2013 so I can’t even imagine what is in store for these two in 2014. They have a mixtape in the works called “Cross Colours And Starter Jackets” which is an all 90′s hip hop inspired project that will feature nothing but old school hip hop instrumentals. Chox-Mak said on twitter that there might be a special guest from the 90′s on this project so I guess everyone will know next year when it is scheduled to drop.”

Like this:

Just went to see my homie Guy House and he introduced me to the brand from the South called “Ik Skloosiv” this is a sneak peak at what is about to be available! Send a shout out if you are interested in buying one of these shirts for $20

Seasoned bowlegged battle-rap champ, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon guest-star, Anthony Anderson’s Mixtape Comedy Show winner, Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival performer, world-recognized freestyle champion, and inspiration to many worldwide, decided to share his journey in weight-loss, physical disability, personal strife, and music career on November 12th by dropping the auto-biographical album entitled “Walk Twice As Hard”.
“Walk Twice As Hard” is a look at the life of bowlegged rapper Jus Daze, who overcame a dramatic transformation, once weighing 500 pounds and needing the assistance of canes to help him walk, to becoming more than just a man who can stand on his own two feet, but a gifted MC who truly “stands out” from the rest!

The album appeals to all “walks” of life, so to speak and has already touched the heart of many looking forward to the project, as well as those who have just found out about it!

The album guest features former WWE Intercontinental Champion MVP on the track “I Made It”. The album also features RnB singers Devo D & Lenore. Walk Twice As Hard includes production from all over the world including France, Canada, Sweden, the United States, & many more! Some contributing producers are B.illing, Subpdp, Stradivarius, Mighty Fuzz Young, Richie Beretta, Juice Beats, Larry Legend, Clipsmoke & more.
“Walk Twice As Hard” is available through Bandcamp Here: http://jusdaze.bandcamp.com/

The Icon- is a upcoming/unique/talented/ complete music artist. Raised in Trinidad And Tobago he fell in love with music at age 12 but not hiphop ,the traditional music in Trinidad. At age 12 The Icon left Trinidad to move to America because his mom wanted a better life for him and her and thats when he discovered his love for hiphop. The first song The Icon ever fell in love with was, Kanye west – Through the Wire which had a great influences on him. At age 15 , that is when he decided to take music seriously. he started making music through his laptop. The quality was horrible but that did not stop him. During the years he develop his own style and own lane, and now at 21 he is bringing his own flavor to this hiphop music. His style, flow brings originality to his music. The Icon is not a rapper. but a complete Music Artist

One of the fastest rising recording artists has to be
none other than Jacksonville, North Carolina’s own Chox-Mak. He has been
making his rounds in the media for a while now and is now starting to get
the attention he well deserves. With his mixtape “Cross Colours And Starter
Jackets” in the works he has decided to give the people something else that
isn’t featured on the project to visualize. “No Weapons” is a track that
promotes positivity and tries to bring down all the negative things that
are happening out in the world. The meaning behind “No Weapons” is to use
your mind as a weapon and no one can stop you from reaching your goals.
Chox-Mak looks to inspire his generation rather than feed into the
negativity. This visual is definitely something to watch it also shows the
struggles of everyday life and how you need to keep pushing to become
something great in life. The production behind this track is brought to
you by Coaste Beats and was shot by Rock Royal Armani Films.

HHS1987 catches up with Yo Gotti while at his I Am tour stop in Philly. Yo Gotti talks about his “I Am” album, what the fans can expect, and wanting to bring the streets back. Yo Gotti talks about knowing the featured on his album way before this album. He talks about Wale putting him on to DC artist Shy Glizzy. We asked Yo Gotti about being slept on and he responded “they say Im underrated but Im overpaid.” This interview was conducted by HHS1987’s EMoney and shot by HHS1987’s Rick Dange.